The reduction in Central grants to Odisha as per the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission is a matter of serious concern. The Biju Janata Dal has demanded that the Chief Minister raise this issue before the Central Government, as grants are declining instead of increasing under the so-called double-engine government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan today, former Minister and MLA Dr. Arun Kumar Sahoo stated that before coming to power, the BJP had promised to increase Central assistance and make Odisha the number one state in the country. However, while Odisha received 4.53 percent of the divisible pool as recommended by the Fifteenth Finance Commission (2021\u201326), the share has been reduced to 4.42 percent under the recommendations of the Sixteenth Finance Commission (2026\u201331). This will cause substantial losses to Odisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the financial year 2024\u201325, Odisha was supposed to receive \u20b95,800 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, but not a single rupee was received. Similarly, during the financial year 2025\u201326, Odisha was completely deprived of assistance under the scheme. In the same manner, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Odisha was expected to receive annual assistance of \u20b96,000 crore, but not a single rupee has been provided during the last two years. Even after Odisha was deprived of its rightful share under these two important schemes, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has failed to gather the courage to raise the issue before the Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Sahoo further stated that during the last two years, the Centre has reduced grants because the State Government has failed to spend the funds allocated in the budget. Moreover, whatever assistance is being released to the State is being provided at the end of the financial year, making it difficult to utilize. Due to the inefficiency of the BJP Government in Odisha, developmental activities in rural areas have come to a complete standstill. As Central assistance under the Jal Jeevan Mission is not being received, people in rural areas are not getting access to drinking water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the new formula of the Sixteenth Finance Commission, developmental activities in every Panchayat of the State will be adversely affected. The reduction in Central assistance over the last two years and the inability of the State Government to utilize budgetary allocations have hampered development. Odisha, which ranked number one in the country in financial management during the previous BJD Government, is now witnessing a deterioration in its financial condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The publicity-driven BJP Government should place the legitimate demands of the people of Odisha before the Centre and secure higher grants for the State. Otherwise, the people of Odisha will never forgive it. BJD spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty was also present at the press conference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"